We are due to go abroad for the first time since my daughter was diagnosed with diabetes

[Guest]

I'm feeling really nervous about how the weather and certain things may affect her.

We are due to fly to Greece in June. Any advice welcomed, particularly from parents that have travelled to hot countries with a young diabetic.

Read a post the other day about a lady who was hating her holiday due to constant hypos and it's really dampened the excitement for me.

Really don't want her to feel like rubbish the whole time.

[Gemma]

As all above I will say I go Greece every year I use skintac and my sensor falls off every time, took 3 last year, all came off within 24hrs, so just make sure you take your blood test kit and lots of strips. As I didn't and it took me 3 days to get some strips and a new kit. I'm giving up with my sensor on holiday this year.x

[Sarah]

My short advice would be to run high to avoid hypos. All of the heat & the swimming & pool temperature, will bring on hypos very quickly. Run higher to be on the safe side.

Doctor’s note to get through customs.

Insulin in hand luggage as the suitcase hold on planes is freezing temperatures.

Double the amount of supplies at least & store in various places in case a bag goes missing or gets dropped etc.

Take plenty of sensors as they can detach more in the heat.

Take cool pouches to keep insulin in.

Drink plenty of bottled water to avoid heat exhaustion & infections etc.

Wear protection on feet in sand/sea/pool areas.

Ensure you have access to A fridge to keep Insulin in.

[Katie]

I always find warm weather + more exercise (walking a lot) + being relaxed all make me run a bit lower on holiday. Taking less insulin (be bold! I find it difficult to believe I need less and try to take my usual amount even though I don't need that much!) is the answer, but also make sure quick acting snacks are available.

I see you've got a cgm so you can keep an eye on it and I'm sure she'll be fine. Needing to have extra food on holiday isn't necessarily a bad thing either as there's usually lots of yummy things available! I've even managed whole ice creams with no insulin when I've been walking loads and very relaxed! I'm sure you and she will have a fantastic time - cgm makes all the difference as you can react and adapt quickly! You got this xxx

[Debbie]

Not a parent of someone with diabetes, but I am T1. We travel a lot, and all I can say is make sure she stays well hydrated as her cgm may otherwise be affected. I never found the heat to be a problem, but obviously check what she is eating for carb content.

And make sure that you always have insulin as well as sweet stuff with you for both extremes! And have fun, enjoy your holiday!

[Susan]

My son was diagnosed at 4, went to Florida when he was 8, nervous wreak.

First few days he usually runs quite low but then it settles.

He does hypo more often but just keep an eye on levels.

He just eats snacks, without insulin. Loves all the extra treats… even now he’s 16! Just make sure you take double the amount of supplies, plus some more.

Copy of prescription just in case, drs note and enjoy xx

[Natalie]

The heat doesn’t affect my levels in a bad way and I find the eating and drinking more than normal really helps! Have a great time!

[Poppy]

Make sure you always have hypo treatments that she doesn't mind taking, ice cold drinks like coke always seem the best in that weather, also make sure she stays hydrated, the best things you can do is just make sure you're aware of any changes in blood sugar, and I'm sure you know its not something you want ruining your holiday, I hope you all have the best time.

[Tom]

I mean personally the warm weather does make me run a tiny bit lower. But it’s not huge. I’ve done so much travelling since my diagnosis at 15 and it’s really never been too much of an issue. Even in really hot climates.

Just speaking from my own experience of course, but the experience of being in new places has far far outweighed any challenges I’ve had with my diabetes.

Whenever I come back I’m also so much more relaxed, which makes my levels more stable… until the real world catches up with me again!

[Sophie]

I always give a bit less insulin and my body tends to adapt after a day or too. The heat affects my blood sugars walking around as opposed to sunbathing so I tend to have a few energy tablets or a full fat coke beforehand. We keep lots of snacks in the fridge and gluco gels which bring my bloods up quickly. We go away quite often and it has never dampened mine or my mums experience. You will have a fantastic time.

[Bethany]

We’ve just got back from sunny Portugal, my boyfriend had high sugars the first couple of days but generally we find it settles down after 2 days of getting used to different food.

Lots of fruit which led to a few hypers but he just corrects and we go on walks to get the insulin working.

Generally he doesn’t have too many hypos in the sun but just make sure you’ve always got hypos on you and you will be absolutely fine. Best advice would be just to check sugars as often as possible xx